Mathematics
Indices and Surds
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Table of Content
1. Definition of indices.
2. Laws of indices.
3. Definition of surds.
4. Types of surds.
5. Properties of quadratic surds.
6. Rationalization factors.
7. Square roots of a + b and a + b + c + d where b,
c, d are surds.
8. Cube root of a binomial quadratic surd.
9. Equation involving surds.
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1. Definition of Indices.
If a is any non-zero real or imaginary number and m is the positive integer, then a m a. a. a. a.......... a
(m times). Here a is called the base and m the index, power or exponent.
2. Laws of Indices.
(1) a 0 1 , (a 0)
1
(2) a m , (a 0)
am
(3) a m n a m .a n , Where m and n are rational numbers
am
(4) a m n , Where m and n are rational numbers, a 0
an
(5) (a m )n a mn
(6) a p / q a p
q
(7) If x y , then a x a y , but the converse may not be true.
For example: (1)6 (1)8 , but 6 8
If a 1, or 0, then x y
(ii) If a 1 , then x, y may be any real number
(iii) If a 1, then x, y may be both even or both odd
(iv) If a 0, then x, y may be any non-zero real number
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But if we have to solve the equations like [ f (x )] ( x ) [ f (x )]Ψ( x ) then we have to solve :
(a) f (x ) 1
(b) f (x ) 1
(c) f (x ) 0
(d) (x ) Ψ(x )
Verification should be done in (b) and (c) cases
(8) a m .b m (ab)m is not always true
In real domain, a b (ab) , only when a 0, b 0
In complex domain, a . b (ab) , if at least one of a and b is positive.
(9) If a x b x then consider the following cases:
(i) If a b, then x 0
(ii) If a b 0, then x may have any real value
(iii) If a b , then x is even.
If we have to solve the equation of the form [ f (x )] ( x ) [g(x )] ( x ) i.e., same index, different bases, then we
have to solve
(a) f (x ) g(x ) ,
(b) f (x ) g(x ) ,
(c) (x ) 0
Verification should be done in (b) and (c) cases.
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3. Definition of Surds.
Any root of a number which cannot be exactly found is called a surd.
Let a be a rational number and n is a positive integer. If the n th root of x i.e., x 1 / n is irrational, then it is
called surd of order n.
Order of a surd is indicated by the number denoting the root.
For example 7 , 3 9 , (11)3 / 5 , n 3 are surds of second, third, fifth and nth order respectively.
A second order surd is often called a quadratic surd, a surd of third order is called a cubic surd.
Note: If a is not rational, n
a is not a surd.
4. Types of Surds.
(1) Simple surd: A surd consisting of a single term. For example 2 3 ,6 5, 5 etc.
(2) Pure and mixed surds: A surd consisting of wholly of an irrational number is called pure surd.
Example: 5, 3 7
A surd consisting of the product of a rational number and an irrational number is called a mixed surd.
Example: 5 3 .
(3) Compound surds: An expression consisting of the sum or difference of two or more surds.
Example: 5 2 , 2 3 3 5 etc.
(4) Similar surds: If the surds are different multiples of the same surd, they are called similar surds.
Example: 45 , 80 are similar surds because they are equal to 3 5 and 4 5 respectively.
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(5) Binomial surds: A compound surd consisting of two surds is called a binomial surd.
Example: 5 2 , 3 3 2 etc.
(6) Binomial quadratic surds: Binomial surds consisting of pure (or simple) surds of order two i.e., the
surds of the form a b c d or a b c are called binomial quadratic surds.
Two binomial quadratic surds which differ only in the sign which connects their terms are said to be
conjugate or complementary to each other. The product of a binomial quadratic surd and its conjugate
is always rational.
For example: The conjugate of the surd 2 7 5 3 is the surd 2 7 5 3 .
5. Properties of Quadratic Surds.
(1) The square root of a rational number cannot be expressed as the sum or difference of a rational
number and a quadratic surd.
(2) If two quadratic surds cannot be reduced to others, which have not the same irrational part, their
product is irrational.
(3) One quadratic surd cannot be equal to the sum or difference of two others, not having the same irrational
part.
(4) If a b c d , where a and c are rational, and b, d are irrational, then a c and b= d .
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6. Rationalization Factors.
If two surds be such that their product is rational, then each one of them is called rationalizing factor of the
other.
Thus each of 2 3 and 3 is a rationalizing factor of each other. Similarly 3 2 and 3 2 are
rationalizing factors of each other, as ( 3 2 )( 3 2 ) 1 , which is rational.
To find the factor which will rationalize any given binomial surd:
Case I: Suppose the given surd is a b
P q
Suppose a1 / P x, b1 / q y and let n be the L.C.M. of p and q. Then x n and y n are both rational.
Now x n y n is divisible by x y for all values of n, and
x n y n (x y)(x n 1 x n 2 y x n 3 y 2 ..... y n 1 ) .
Thus the rationalizing factor is x n 1 x n 2 y x n 3 y 2 ..... y n 1 and the rational product is x n y n .
Case II: Let the given surd be a b .
p q
Let x , y, n have the same meaning as in Case I.
(1) If n is even, then x n y n is divisible by x+ y and x n y n (x y)(x n 1 x n 2 y x n 3 y 3 ..... y n 1 )
Thus the rationalizing factor is x n 1 x n 2 y x n 3 y 2 ..... y n 1 and the rational product is x n y n .
(2) If n is odd, x n y n is divisible by x y , and x n y n (x y)(x n 1 x n 2 y .... y n 1 )
Thus the rationalizing factor is x n 1 x n 2 y ..... xy n 2 y n 1 and the rational product is x n y n .
7. Square Roots of a +b and a + b + c + d Where b, c, d are Surds.
Let (a b ) x y , where x , y 0 are rational numbers.
Then squaring both sides we have, a b x y 2 x y
a x y, b 2 xy b 4 xy
So, (x y) 2 (x y) 2 4 xy a 2 b
After solving we can find x and y.
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Similarly square root of a b can be found by taking (a b ) x y, x y
To find square root of a + b + c + d : Let (a b c d ) x y z , (x , y, z 0) and take
(a b c d ) x y z . Then by squaring and equating, we get equations in x, y, z. On
solving these equations, we can find the required square roots.
Note: If a 2 b is not a perfect square, the square root of a b is complicated i.e., we can't find the value of
(a b ) in the form of a compound surd.
If (a b ) x y , x y then (a b ) x y
a a2 b
a a b
2
a (b)
2 2
a a2 b
a a b
2
a (b)
2 2
If a is a rational number, b , c , d , are surds then
bd bc cd
(i) a b c d
4c 4d 4b
bd cd bc
(ii) a b c d ,
4c 4b 4d
bc bd cd
(iii) a b c d
4d 4c 4b
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8. Cube Root of a Binomial Quadratic Surd.
If (a b )1 / 3 x y then (a b )2 / 3 x y , where a is a rational number and b is a surd.
Procedure of finding (a b )1 / 3 is illustrated with the help of an example:
Taking (37 30 3 )1 / 3 x y we get on cubing both sides, 37 30 3 x 3 3 xy (3 x 2 y) y
x 3 3 xy 37
(3 x 2 y) y 30 3 15 12
As 3 cannot be reduced, let us assume y 3 we get 3 x 2 y 3 x 2 3 30 x 3
Which doesn't satisfy x 3 3 xy 37
Again taking y 12, we get
3 x 2 12 15 , x 1
x 1, y 12 Satisfy x 3 3 xy 37
3 37 30 3 1 12 1 2 3
9. Equations Involving Surds.
While solving equations involving surds, usually we have to square, on squaring the domain of the
equation extends and we may get some extraneous solutions, and so we must verify the solutions and
neglect those which do not satisfy the equation.
Note that from ax bx , to conclude a b is not correct. The correct procedure is x (a b) =0 i.e. x 0 or
a b . Here, necessity of verification is required.
